Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-27
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUnLIC.
Interesting Facts Concerning the Great
Order OF Veterans.

was looSened by the kindly hand, peace? This 1:
question which presents itself to many thous
andS In one form or another who see the streets
niled With aged men wearing soft felt hats, witt
gold cords, on their heads and their blue coats
brass buttons and badges OF many kinds and pat
terms. As an organization IL has seen only twenty
years. but its purposes, It's plans, It's accom-
pliShrnents have made IL the greatest Of the kind
In the world Its origin has been frequently dis
puted- Romance and rhetoric have multiplied the
story. Orators, great and small have shouted
themselves hoarse In telling the way IL came about
that the Grand Army OF the Republic elbowed
itself 70 the front and seized the palm the great
est, the bravest organization OF patriots In any
nation, ancient or modern Its roll has Included
names famous In history, but now cut in mOrtuary
marbles. IL still Includes In It's band-an heroes
many equally famous, who, happily living, join To-
day their comrades OF the bivOuac and the held
In the halls Of entertainment to discuss the pr1ncl
Piles OF the order which holds them together, a
marked generation among the generations But
how did IL all come about?
This is the accepted 1dea:-ItS originator was
DIR. Benjamin +. Stephenson, physician OF spring
Held, IL, who had served surgeon in the Four
teenth Illinois infantry during the war. He hrst
suggested the Idea in February, 1866. Published
accounts state that Decatur, Ill, was the birth.
place OF the order, but the only living conrade OF
the four who were present at the first muster ana
mutually took the obligation, according 10 the MT
al that DIR. Stephenson had prepared, says that 1t
was founded at Springfield The frst formal or
ysniZatiOn OF a post occurred, however, beyond
question, on April g. 1865 at the village OF Deca-
tur, which contained only forty-three Union SOL
1iers.
oRIGrNAroRs OF THE 6. A. R.
Among them were Messrs. Coltr1n Prior, pro-
prietors Of the Decatur Tribune, and their COM
positors, who printed the first ritual Of the Grand
Army, as written by DIR. stephenson. Soon after
were quickly Instituted throughout Illinois, Wis
cOnsin, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa and Missouri. ON
aS held 81 org afS MI IaSn Pmer
elected department commander, and the following
resolution was adopted
Whereas. we. the members of the Grand Army Of the
Republic, gnize in Major b. +. stephenson, of
Springfield Ill, the head and front of the organza
esolosd. That for the energy, the loyalty and the
perseverance manifested In organizing the Grand
OF the men. and We, the soldiers. tender him our
thanks and pledge him friendship all times and
under all circumstances.
THE ROMANTIC STORY.
Another account states that the nucleus OF the
Grand Army was formed by the Union soldiers
while enduring the prtvatiOns and suferings of
rebel prison pens. In their extremity they felt
The necessity OF greater confidence in one another
and closer union for the means or Self-pr0teciiOn,
well as mutual consolation. Iii tile Keeping OF
foes who treated them like dogs, and upon the
least provOcatiOn took their lives, they had need
10 be awake 10 the dangers OF their situation and
10 prepare themselves Tor any emergency II Is
said the Association OF prisoners the first OF
its kind ever In existence. and IL is claimed that
out OF its plan OF organization with its bonds OF
friendship, moulded In adversely, grew the Grand
Army OF the Republic.
Out OF all these stories grew what promised to
BE- grape and canister battle between Wisconsin
and Illinois as TO which department should have
the rlgnt OF the line in the national encampment
parade here. Now, happily, this discussion dis
solved In smoke, so that the boys who marched to-
gether 10 victory can be happy and mess together
and rub against each other once more. 1t Is
claimed by the Department OF Wisconsin that 1t
was Organized one month and five days before the
Department of Illinois. The commander-in-chief
Is OF this way OF thinking and in fact caused Ii
be Incorporated In an ORDER recently Issued deter
rx dana ~ oarr- hn ri.rht
OF line. STILL In spite of his opinion, he awarded
the right OF the line to Illinois. Gen. Fairchild's
expression Of opinion aroused considerable feeling
At the time.
THE FIRST POST ORGANIZED.
On the memorable night OF April g. 1866, the
first G. A. r. Post was instituted by Dr. Stephen
son. There were twelve recruits mustered: NJ F.
Kenan, Geo. r. Steele, ]. @ Bishop, c. Riebsame,
b. f. Sioley, N Coltrim, }. NJ Prior, J. w. Routh,
A. Zoland. John III. Male, i. Z. Pugh. and Geo. ii.
Dunning. The post was described in the charter as
Post l, OF Decatur District OF Macon. Department
OF illinois," IL was duly authorized TO work
under a charter granted by Col. Stephenson CON-
mander OF the department OF Illinois. The char
Ter was recorded In book A. page 5, In the Office of
department commander. The organization was
effected In third story room in the j. G. Star
Building, on the west side Of Lincoln square, not
far Iroin the site OF the old brick COURTHOUSE In
which the 1aInenIed Lincoln, before 1850 prac-
ttced law and delivered some or his famous
speeches on the political issues Of the time Post
4, with It's original twelve members, increased
rapidly In numbers, but the attendance in meet
1ns fell OF, until finally, after several years the
post ceased To have active existence and the
members were transferred TO another post The
Decatur Post Is now known as Durham Post No
14l. and 1t Is one OF the largest and healthiest
posts in the West The enthusiasm among the
promoters OF the new movement, and the efforts
made 10 promugate the idea of the association In
terested the soldiers generally, and II long
before other posts organized.
FIRST NATIONAL ESCAMPNENT
The first nationa, encampment OF the Grand
Army OF the Republic assembled at Indianapolis,
in response TO the following call:
HEADQUARTERS GRAND ARMY THE REPUBLIC
rss srnIS 9Ial4. III iLi Ia Oct 81 1856
National Conyention of the Grand Army Of the Re-
public Is hereby ordered TO convene ut Indianapos
Ind. 81 10 o'clock Tuesday, the goth day of No,
tion orsanizaton and the transaction Of such Other
business as may come before the convention The
shall be entitled representative and when the
menbershp exceeds 100 10 one additional represents
and IN the ratio for add tional 100 or
fractional thereof All department and district
All honorsbiy discharged soldiers and sailors aud
those now serving in the Army DESTROYS becoming
spectfuly invited 70 attend the convention All COM
rades are requested to wear the blue" with corps
Commanderin. Chief 6. a r 6 Sc
of,cial; ]. C. WEBER, Adjutant General. Department
THE BADGE ADOPTED.
On the LIST OF october, 1865, an important meet
ing OF the council OF administration was held in
New York, at which steps were taken toward the
adoption OF badge and uniform. The council pre.
pared the design for the present well-kn0wn
badge, and recommended the appointment OF a
committee 10 'rey1se the rules, regulations and
ritual 10 consider the subject OF degrees 10 recon-
mend a uniform for the Grand Army OF the Renuh
lie, and 10 report at the next meeting OF the ma
Iional encainpment." COmmander-in NJ hief logan
appointed the committee, and IL submitted re-
port AT the Cincinnati encampment in 1862 en-
bOdying the suggestions OF the COUNCIL the propo-
stion being with some slight changes the same as
Is now observed by the order. The badge was nor
formally adopted until the eneampment which
met in Washington ON May IL. 1870. The growth
Of the order during its frSt few years Was rather
spasmodlc. its numbers springing suddenly from
10000 In 1853 20 200, 900 IL 1867. A decline then
lad been most rapid and its Organization rather
imperfect
owing 10 the reorganization and perfection OF
the order, which occupied the next few years the
methods OF enrolment and record were Changed .
and the reports concerning the member ship are at
variance The reports do not become really au-
thentfc again until 1877, when the rolls show a
membership OF - Prom 1872 until 1872 the
membership varied; and since the latter wear II
has steadily Increased. In 1856 there were 2s5 COO
and this year f00,0 900.
ESCAMPMENTS AND COMMANDERS
The following table shows the time and place OF
each encampment, with the name OF the com.
maader-in-ehief selected upon each occasion:
1s66-Indianapolis ..... stephen A Hurlbut. Ill
1c6S-Philadelphl .JnO. A. Logan, Ill
1s6p-Cincinndti- -JnO- A Logan {re-eleeteil
Washington. A Logan (re-elected
1s7l-BOstOn- A E Burnside X L
1s42-tIeyeland ...-...-A- Z Burnside re-eectetii
1s13-New Haven ..... .ChaS. Devens, IT, Mass
williamsburg. e. DeVens, tr. (re-eecfed,
lSso-ChicagO- Jno. +. Hartranft Pa
Il L. Ilar s.raF$